Who knows what the MLB was thinking when they created the 2010 schedule but I can only guess that they didn’t think the AL East would come down to the Yankees and the Rays.

While the Yankees play out the final three weeks of the season against the Rays, Orioles, Rays(HOME), Red Sox(HOME), Blue Jays, Red Sox in that order. Plus, as you probably noticed only two of those 6 series are home or 7 of the total 19 games that will be played. All are against AL East rivals.

Comparably, the Rays will play out the final three weeks of the season against the Yankees(HOME), Angels(HOME), Yankees, Seattle(HOME), Orioles(HOME), and Royals. Four of the six series are at home or 12 of a total 16 games. Only 10 games are against division rivals and 9 of the games are against teams with a losing record, or pretty much every team not named the Yankees.

I don’t think this qualifies as a conspiracy against the Yankees or anything but it is something to think about. Draw your own conclusions, but the Yankees face an uphill battle finishing the season while the Rays can coast to a potential division title.

Alex Rodriguez confirmed to the Associated Press Friday that long-time agent Scott Boras is no longer representing him. Boras had been A-Rod’s agent for his entire major league career, starting in 1993.

With A-Rod in the third year of a 10 Year, $275 Million contract with the Yankees, coupled with the low number of endorsements A-Rod has, means he most likely won’t need an agent for the remainder of his career. At the very least, he will not need an agent of Boras’ stature.

Rodriguez told the AP that there was nothing specific that led to the separation, simply saying “some of the things I needed 20 years ago I really don’t need now.”

Rodriguez actually negotiated his last contract with the Yankees after a falling out with Boras and the way he was handling A-Rod’s free agency. It’s been rumored that the Yankees had initially been prepared to pay him in excess off $300 Million over ten years had Rodriguez not opted out of the final three years of his previous deal. Instead, Boras announced that Rodriguez had opted out in the middle of Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, a move that generated criticism across the sport.

Boras seemed to misunderstand the market for A-Rod and when no other teams bit at Boras’ demands of $300+++ Million, Rodriguez started communications with the Yankee directly and ended up negotiating the current 10-year deal.

It’s unknown how much their relationship has soured since that fateful offseason and if it has played any part in this separation almost 3 years later.